Dossier
Maya civilization
Coverage of Maya civilization in the Nexus archive.
- Maya mathematician’s name decoded alongside astronomical formula
An ancient Maya astronomer-mathematician named Sak Tahn Waax, identified through deciphered inscriptions at Xultun, Guatemala, is credited with a 1200-year-old formula predicting Mars and Venus orbital cycles. The discovery, led by MIT's Franco Rossi, includes the oldest known named astronomer-mathematician in the Americas.
- Maya collapse mystery deepens as scientists find no drought at key site
New research challenges the drought theory behind the Maya civilization's collapse, showing stable climate conditions at Itzan in Guatemala. Instead, interconnected cities likely unraveled due to wars, migration, and economic breakdown as neighboring regions faced drought.